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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Girls Basketball District Preview

CLASS AHolly DistrictTeams: Holly, Clarkston, Fenton, Schwartz Creek, Ortonville Brandon, Grand BlancBreakdown: Too bad that Holly and Clarkston meet in the opener, because both teams had a legitimate chance of playing in the finals. GiveClarkston has the edge because of its experience and ability to find scoring and defense from just about anywhere on the courtWinner: Clarkston

Novi DistrictTeams: Novi, South Lyon, Plymouth, Plymouth Salem, Plymouth Canton, NorthvilleBreakdown: Novi could get tested by Northville or Plymouth Canton, but ultimately, it’s the Wildcats District to lose. Novi hit a bit of a rough stretch late in the year with losses to quality Hartland and John Glenn teams, but they’ll bounce back in time for the playoffs.Winner: Novi

Southfield-Lathrup DistrictTeams: Southfield-Lathrup, Southfield, Berkley, Royal Oak, Oak Park, Detroit Henry FordBreakdown: This district will likely come down to Lathrup and Royal Oak, Lathrup has played much better late in the season, but Royal Oak has the always dangerous Sami Stormont. Lathrup could have the advantage because of its very difficult regular season schedule and seems to have turned the corner as of late.Winner: Lathrup

West Bloomfield DistrictTeams: West Bloomfield, North Farmington, Farmington Hills Mercy, Farmington, Farmington Hills Harrison, Walled Lake WesternBreakdown: This is a district that has some of Oakland County’s most dynamic players which include North Farmington’s Jasmine Harris and West Bloomfield’s Sydni Davis. But Mercy is the favorite in this district, especially after its 52-45 upset of No. 5 ranked Detroit Pershing on Thursday. However, if players like Harris or Davis have a big game, this district could be wide open.Winner: Farmington Hills Mercy

Milford DistrictTeams: Milford, Hartland, Howell, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Northern, LakelandBreakdown: This district should be all Hartland as the Eagles have by far the best record out of the bunch and with players like Bailee Maggert and Lindsay Pajot, Hartland should make it look easy.Winner: Hartland

Bloomfield Hills Andover DistrictTeams: Bloomfield Hills Andover, Bloomfield Hills Lahser, Birmingham Seaholm, Birmingham Marian, Birmingham GrovesBreakdown: This district should belong to host Andover with star sophomore Shannon Wilson, who is quickly becoming one of the most clutch players around, but don’t sleep on a young Marian team that could surprise some teams. But in the end, expect Wilson and Co. to take care of business and their home floor.Winner: Andover

Auburn Hills Avondale DistrictTeams: Auburn Hills Avondale, Troy Athens, Troy, Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, PontiacBreakdown: A season opener rematch between Avondale and Kettering is more than a possibility as both teams have played stellar defense this season, but almost any team has a shot at making it to the district finals here. I have a feeling that it will be a district final showdown between Avondale and Kettering and I’m giving the slight edge to the “Defense Department”Winner: Kettering

Rochester DistrictTeams: Rochester, Lake Orion, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, OxfordBreakdown: After winning an OAA White title, Adams should be considered as the favorite in this district, but with a dynamic scorer like Gabby Yurik from Stoney Creek, anything can happen. However, in the end, I think that Adams is the deepest team in this district and it will show once the district is all wrapped up.Winner: Adams

Class BLivonia Clarenceville DistrictTeams: Livonia Clarenceville, Highland Park, Detroit Community, Ferndale, Detroit Old Redford, Highland Park Community, Detroit CMA, Ferndale UniversityBreakdown: Ferndale has a very good chance of picking up the district title here, especially with two very good scorers in Janecia Jenkins and Micaela Ellis, who are both averaging nearly 15 points per game, while Jenkins is also averaging well over 10 rebounds per contest.Winner: Ferndale

Birmingham Detroit Country Day DistrictTeams: Birmingham Detroit Day, Hazel Park, Clawson, Warren Lincoln, Madison Heights Lamphere, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Center LineBreakdown: As always, it’s never a good thing when your team is in the same district as Country Day because every year it’s a lock that the Yellowjackets will make a run at going to the Breslin and they have as good of a shot as ever with guards Amber Deane and Aerial Powers.Winner: Birmingham Detroit Country Day

Capac DistrictTeams: Capac, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Macomb Lutheran North, Armada, Imlay City, AlmontBreakdown: Notre Dame Prep should be able to make it into the district finals, but it is going to have a tough uphill battle playing in a district final that will likely include a 15-4 Capac team. However, senior guard Kiaya Bowman and sophomore sharpshooter Sarah LewAllen should give the Fighting Irish a chance.Winner: Capac

Linden DistrictTeams: Linden, Fowlerville, Lake Fenton, South Lyon East, StockbridgeBreakdown: South Lyon East took big strides this season as the Cougars finished the season with an 11-9 mark. East will be challenged, facing a solid Lake Fenton team in the semifinals and either Stockbridge or Lake Fenton who hold 13-7 records and have proven to be very good scoring teams.Winner: Stockbridge

CLASS CMt. Clemens DistrictTeams: Mt. Clemens, Harper Woods Heart Academy, Madison Heights Madison, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, Detroit Winans Academy, Warren Michigan CollegiateBreakdown: This district should be all Liggett as the Knights have had a very impressive season which includes a 16-4 regular season record. Liggett could get a bit of a challenge from host Mt. Clemens, but Liggett should move on.Winner: Liggett

Royal Oak Shrine DistrictTeams: Royal Oak Shrine, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart, Southfield Bradford, Pontiac Academy for Excellence, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Auburn Hills Oakland ChristianBreakdown: Bishop Foley has the looks of a team that’s ready to make a run in the state tournament with a senior laden team. Guard Jackie Bieniewicz and forward Colleen Szakacs should provide plenty of scoring punch to lead the Ventures into the regional round. Don’t sleep on Lutheran Northwest though who has quietly put together a nice season.Winner: Bishop Foley

CLASS DBirmingham Roeper DistrictTeams: Birmingham Roeper, West Bloomfield Jewish Academy, Novi Franklin Road Christian, Southfield Christian, Detroit CityBreakdown: This district will likely come down to Franklin Road Christian and Southfield Christian. Southfield Christian will be a tough challenge for Franklin Road Christian, but the Warriors have been impressive all season long, holding a 16-4 record behind standout sophomore Kristen Massey who is averaging an impressive 27 points per game and nearly five rebounds per as well.Winner: Novi Franklin Road Christian

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes DistrictTeams: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, New Haven Merritt, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Auburn Hills Christian
Breakdown: Once again this district should belong to WOLL, with a lineup that can provide scoring from just about anywhere. The lone team that should test WOLL is rival Cardinal Mooney as both teams hold a 15-4 record heading into the playoffs. WOLL beat Cardinal Mooney twice this season, 37-35 on January 12th and 52-40 on February 2nd.Winner: WOLL

2 comments:

Jeff, If you check my blog the Dragons Den. I also have a preview of my projections of each district that OAA teams are in. We agree on every one of them except for District 30: you said Adams, Kosmo says Stoney Creek, and I'm saying Orion. If you look at District 30, I think there are 4 teams (Orion, Adams, Stoney Creek, Oxford) that could win that district. Adams is a very good, deep, and lengthy team which will give Stoney Creek problems in the semis. I can see Orion vs Adams in the district finals and will be a good one.

I took a look at your blog, it's a really good read. We were pretty much in lockstep on the districts. The Lake Orion district was the toughest to predict in my opinion because Lake Orion, Adams and Stoney Creek all have the ability to beat anyone on any night. I think Oxford made big improvements this season, but still need another year or two to be in contention for a district title.

About Me

Jeff Dullack grew up in Walled Lake and graduated from Walled Lake Northern high school in 2007. During his time in high school, Jeff played football, baseball and was a thrower in Track and Field. Jeff has been covering high school sports for the Oakland Press and MIPrepzone.com since February of 2009. You can e-mail him at jeff.dullackii@yahoo.com